This groundbreaking book deviates from the standard or "textbook" way of looking at the history of the English language. Emphasis is placed on a linguistic description of English in a much broader sense. A range of international contributors provide accounts of the histories of non-standard, non-British and non-American varieties. By approaching and including non-formal styles and registers, and the pragmatic and communicative aspects of English, it opens the door to unbiased consideration of such topics as South African Indian English, Southern Hemisphere Englishes, and Early Modern English women's writing. Watts' and Trudgill's collection shows how a focus on the history of standard English dialect is to the detriment of those which are from other areas of the world.

Introduction:In the year 2525, PETER TRUDGILL AND RICHARD WATTS

PROLOGUE

1. The legitimate language:giving a history to English, Jim Milroy

PART I

Introduction to Part I 2. The history of the lesser-known varieties of English, PETER TRUDGILL 3. 'North of Watford Gap':A cultural history of Northern English (from 1700), KATIE WALES 4. The history of southern hemisphere Englishes, ELIZABETH GORDON AND ANDREA SUDBURY 5. 'Deformed in the dialects':An alternative history of non-standard English, SHANA POPLACK, GERARD VAN HERK AND DAWN HARVIE 6. Building a new English dialect:South African Indian English and the history of Englishes, RAJEND MESTHRIE 7. The story of good and bad English in the United States, DENNIS PRESTON

PART II

Introduction to Part II 8. From polite language to educated language:the reemergence of an ideology, RICHARD J. WATTS 9. Eloquence and elegance:ideals of communicative competence in spoken English, SHARON MILLAR 10. Women's writings as evidence for linguistic continuity and change in Early Modern English, TERTTU NEVALAINEN 11. Discourse markers in Early Modern English, ANDREAS H. JUCKER 12. Epilogue:Broadcasting the nonstandard message, DAVID CRYSTAL

This groundbreaking book deviates from the standard or "textbook" way of looking at the history of the English language. Emphasis is placed on a linguistic description of English in a much broader sense. A range of international contributors provide accounts of the histories of non-standard, non-British and non-American varieties. By approaching and including non-formal styles and registers, and the pragmatic and communicative aspects of English, it opens the door to unbiased consideration of such topics as South African Indian English, Southern Hemisphere Englishes, and Early Modern English women's writing. Watts' and Trudgill's collection shows how a focus on the history of standard English dialect is to the detriment of those which are from other areas of the world.

Table of Contents

Introduction:In the year 2525, PETER TRUDGILL AND RICHARD WATTS

PROLOGUE

1. The legitimate language:giving a history to English, Jim Milroy

PART I

Introduction to Part I 2. The history of the lesser-known varieties of English, PETER TRUDGILL 3. 'North of Watford Gap':A cultural history of Northern English (from 1700), KATIE WALES 4. The history of southern hemisphere Englishes, ELIZABETH GORDON AND ANDREA SUDBURY 5. 'Deformed in the dialects':An alternative history of non-standard English, SHANA POPLACK, GERARD VAN HERK AND DAWN HARVIE 6. Building a new English dialect:South African Indian English and the history of Englishes, RAJEND MESTHRIE 7. The story of good and bad English in the United States, DENNIS PRESTON

PART II

Introduction to Part II 8. From polite language to educated language:the reemergence of an ideology, RICHARD J. WATTS 9. Eloquence and elegance:ideals of communicative competence in spoken English, SHARON MILLAR 10. Women's writings as evidence for linguistic continuity and change in Early Modern English, TERTTU NEVALAINEN 11. Discourse markers in Early Modern English, ANDREAS H. JUCKER 12. Epilogue:Broadcasting the nonstandard message, DAVID CRYSTAL